UCAZ OBJECTIVES AND STRUCTURES

Vision and Mission

· The vision :

UCAZ aspires to be a vibrant and proactive gender sensitive institution, strategically focussed and well resourced to sustainably deliver a quality service to its membership for the benefit of sustainable local socio-economic development of local communities.

· The mission:

UCAZ is an association of urban governments, which, through strength in unity of purpose and in the true spirit of smart partnership, advocates, negotiates, lobbies and initiates improvements in local and national legislation, development programmes and services to enhance urban life for both women and men in Zimbabwe.

Current Objectives

Lobbying and advocating for improvements in local governance through reforms in local and national legislation and in management systems,

Promoting an autonomous, effective, efficient, transparent and accountable local government system throughout the urban councils,

Promoting civic participation in municipal governance,

Facilitating investigation and research into all aspects of local government and establishing a library and bureau of information,

Enhancing the performance of policy makers and staff through capacity building programmes,

Addressing the underrepresentation of women in local government,

Mobilising resources to sponsor and assist the study of local government including study visits and attendance at conferences to gain information and experience for the benefit of the Association and its members,

Promoting local, regional and international networking between councils and other associations.

Liasing closely with its sister association the Association of Rural District Councils in promoting the role and value of local government so that more resources and skills can be channeled into:-

developing a long term agenda of change with strategic themes to improve the standing of local government, and
active promotion of local government’s case to central government, civic society, women’s groups, the media, private sector and donors.

THE STRUCTURES

UCAZ operates through the following organs.

· Annual General Meeting – which is held back to back with the Annual Conference in the last week of May. It is the supreme policy making body and is attended by representatives of all the members.

· Executive Committee - comprising all mayors/chairpersons of the urban councils which meets quarterly,

· The Presidential Committee comprising the President, the First and Second Vice Presidents, the Immediate Past President, two committee members one representing town councils and local boards, and one representing the Women in Local Government Forum, and the Secretary General,

· Subcommittees of the Executive Committee namely Management, Manpower and Legal, Technical Services, Health Services, Housing and Community Services and Finance,

· Officers’ Fora namely Town Clerks, Engineers, Health Officers, Housing and Community Services and Treasurers Forum each of which reports to one of the subcommittees. The composition of a subcommittee is four members of the Executive Committee and four officers from the relevant forum.

The Secretariat is headed by the Secretary General and presently comprises the Training and Programme Officer, the Advocacy Officer, the Finance Officer, the Administrative Officer, the Editor/Public Relations Officer, two Secretary/Typists and a messenger.